EAST LANSING, Mich. -- Jenna Allen, the lone senior from the Michigan State women’s basketball team (18-9, 8-8 Big Ten), knew that if the Spartans wanted to get it done against in-state rival Michigan (19-10, 10-7 Big Ten) on senior day this Sunday. That she would have to start playing like the senior she is.
Allen answered the call in a 74-64 victory over the Wolverines that saw her score 18 points, grab seven rebounds, while also adding five steals. The performance came after a tough home loss to Ohio State last Thursday, one that caused head coach Suzy Merchant to question the mental toughness of her players following the loss.
“I felt like the last two days of practice, with Michigan coming here, I don’t care how many games they said they won or whatever I’m like ‘we’re gonna beat them’,” said Merchant following the game. “And I felt that way because of how we practiced to be honest.”
The Spartans completed a season sweep of the Wolverines with the win. MSU defeated Michigan in the pairs first meeting in Ann Arbor, 77-73. The win also ended a seven-game winning streak, which dates back too, oddly enough: the last time the two rivals played in January.
“It’s special you know, this university is special and you know to be able to go out on senior night against Michigan and then have a great game because I’ve kind of been in a slump means a lot to me,” said Allen. “I think my teammates and coaches, they believed in me today and just fought for me and that’s all I can ever ask for.”
Allen had been in a bit of a slump, averaging five points a game in her previous four contests.
The senior center [Allen] is leading the Spartans in total points and eclipsed the 1,000 point mark as well for her career. She averages 13.5 points a game, only second to junior Shay Colley who is averaging 15.5 points a contest.
Allen scored 10 points in the first quarter alone.
The game was closer then Merchant may have hoped early, as the Spartans jumped out to a 7-0 lead early before Michigan battled back, tying it at 12-12 early in the first quarter.
The Spartans shook off the rust and took a 42-37 lead into the half.
The game didn’t remain very close as the Spartans expanded the lead to double digits late in the third quarter, with the help of 25 Wolverine turnovers, the Spartans were able to hold off any late game dramatics and get the victory in front of a sold out Breslin Center crowd.
The Wolverines were led in scoring by Naz Hillmon, who scored a career high 27 points to go with 11 rebounds. Hillmon only missed two shots in the game, going 11-of-13 from the field.
The Spartans will play their final home game of the season on Wednesday against Penn State in what is a make-up game for the one that was cancelled due to weather in late January.
That one will tip-off at 7 p.m. at the Breslin Center, the Wolverines will finish up their home schedule in the last game of the year on Mar. 3 against Wisconsin.
